System and method for automatic inspection of injection syringes on the basis of machine vision

ABSTRACT

A machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system and methods of use. The system comprises of an inspection and control unit, image capture devices ( 32, 33 ), light sources ( 34, 35, 36, 37 ), a unit that makes the needle cannula ( 28 ) and the image capture device(s) ( 32, 33 ) rotate relative to each other, and a rejected part removal unit. By means of rotating the needle cannula ( 28 ) and image capture devices ( 32, 33 ) relatively, a plurality of images captured along the circumferential direction of the needle cannula are directly saved to a computer, the images are then screened, processed and analyzed to fulfill the automatic inspection of multiple quality and technical parameters of the needle cannula without the need to position the bevel area of cannula tip to a specific direction. Inspection parameters and accuracy can be set at any time, the system can automatically record classification and statistics of passed and rejected needle cannulae for query, and the rejected cannulae are removed automatically at next position. All the functions are completed at one work station, and needle cannula tips on both sides can be inspected simultaneously, if needed. Thereby the inspection efficiency and reliability are greatly improved, resulting in extremely extensive application prospects and huge economic values.

TECHNICAL FIELDS

The present invention relates to the technical filed of machine vision based online inspections, especially the machine vision based online automatic inspection of multiple quality and technical parameters of needle cannula and methods of use.

BACKGROUND

The quality of a needle cannula in any medication administration device or system is extremely important. Therefore, ways and means to perform the online automatic inspection of multiple quality and technical parameters of needle cannula have been sought. It is apparent that manual inspection efficiency is very low and the quality is difficult to ensure.

CN102303017B, issued on Dec. 26, 2012, disclosed a machine vision based automatic inspection method to inspect curved steel syringe needles by setting the lateral bending distance of the needle tip as the inspection parameter which can be adjusted according to users' requirements. Camera in the system trigged and controlled by external signal will capture images of online syringe needles. Images will then be transmitted to a computer for image algorithm processing and identifying syringe needles with excessive lateral bending distance than preset parameter as rejected products which will be removed via an external triggered and controlled signal through a specific discharge port.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, when inspecting needle cannula tip using a machine vision system, the requirement for accurate positioning of needle cannula, especially along the circumferential direction of the cannula, is very high. The bevel area of needle cannula tip must face directly to the image capture device, as shown in the first image of FIG. 1. With the continuous advancement of needle cannula manufacturing technologies, its diameter has become smaller and smaller, fine cannula's diameters are often 0.30 mm (30G), 0.25 mm (31G) even 0.20 mm (32G). These cannulae need to go through necessary processes such as de-buffing and extensive cleaning after tip machining process, resulting in a random distribution of needle cannula bevel's directions. There is no known and effective prior art to position the bevel's direction uniformly without the potential to damage the very fragile tip. Therefore machine vision can not be effectively used for needle tip inspection. People attempted to capture images along cannula's axis (direction A) near the cannula tip, as shown in FIG. 2, thus large burrs (26) and bending tip (27) will show up inside the cannula's inside diameter and outside the cannula's outside diameter. Unfortunately the resolution of this kind of inspection is low, only suitable for cannula with diameter larger than 0.46 mm (26G) because the smaller the cannula's diameter, the bigger the ratio of the length of cannula's bevels and cannula diameter, and image capture devices also need magnifying lens to capture quality images which will reduce the image depth of field. When cannula's diameter is less than 0.46 mm (26G), the depth of field of image taking devices with lens is less than the length of cannula's bevels, therefore burs and tip bending will not show up in the image. As a matter of fact, needle cannula of 26G and bigger is very rarely used nowadays.

INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide an online machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system and methods of use as part of an automatic production line. The system and methods have high inspection efficiency and high reliability. Automatic online inspections of multiple quality and technical parameters of needle cannulae and rejected parts removal are completed in one station.

To realize the aforementioned objective, the present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system comprises at least the following:

An inspection and control unit, to establish and realize its synchronized control and information processing with all other units of the automatic inspection system, and one of the following items a, b or c:

a. A needle cannula holding and positioning unit, to separate, position and hold the needle cannula and to be able to keep said needle cannula in position while said needle cannula is driven to rotate; A needle cannula driving unit, to rotate said needle cannula; Fixed image capture device(s), to capture images of rotating needle cannula driven by said needle cannula driving unit while synchronized and controlled by said inspection and control unit;

b. A needle cannula holding, positioning and rotating unit, to separate, position, hold and rotate said needle cannula and to be able to keep said needle cannula in position; Fixed image capture device1(s), to capture images of rotating needle cannula while synchronized and controlled by said inspection and control unit;

c. A fixed needle cannula holding and positioning unit, to separate, position and hold said needle cannula; Image capture device(s) rotating around said needle cannula, to capture images of the said fixed needle cannula while rotating around said needle cannula and synchronized and controlled by the said inspection and control unit;

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, for item a, wherein the said needle cannula holding and positioning unit is a cannula wheel device, or linear stepper tool bars, or a linear stepper belt; Said needle cannula driving unit is a power-driven rotating belt system, or a power-driven rotating wheel, which enables the said fixed image capture device(s) to capture images of rotating needle cannula driven by said needle cannula driving unit while synchronized and controlled by the said inspection and control unit.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, for item b, wherein said needle cannula holding, positioning and rotating unit is a device that can separate, position, hold and rotate the said needle cannula and to be able to keep said needle cannula in position, so that the said fixed image capture device(s) can capture images of rotating needle cannula while synchronized and controlled by the said inspection and control unit.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, for item c, wherein the said fixed needle cannula holding and positioning unit is a cannula wheel device, or linear stepper tool bars, or a linear stepper belt, or any device that can individually separate and fix the said needle cannula; Said image capture device(s) rotating around the said needle cannula is a system that rotates around the said needle cannula when driven by power and is capable of keeping the image capture device(s) focused on said needle cannula while capturing images and synchronized and controlled by the said inspection and control unit.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, for item a, wherein, on both sides of the circumferential edge of the said cannula wheel, or on top of the said linear stepper tool bars or the said linear stepper belt, there are uniformly and symmetrically set teeth, between two adjacent teeth there is a tooth groove or slot where said needle cannula to be inspected is placed in, each tooth groove or slot is placed at most one said needle cannula, said cannula wheel only rotates forward one tooth at a time or the said linear stepper tool bars or the said linear stepper belt only move forward one tooth at a time.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, for item a, wherein said power-driven rotating belt system or said power-driven rotating wheel is placed above the said cannula wheel or the said linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt, forming an engagement area with said cannula wheel or on the said linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt in which said power-driven rotating belt or power-driven rotating wheel is pressed onto the said needle cannula near the bottom of tooth grove or slot, when the said belt or wheel is driven to rotate, it will drive the said needle cannula to rotate, said engagement area is a cylindrical area whose diameter is on the circumference of the bottom of said tooth grooves or slots of said cannula wheel, or a plane whose height is the same as the bottom of tooth grooves or slots on said linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt, the width of said power-driven rotating belt or power-driven rotating wheel is slightly less than the width of the said engagement area.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, wherein a plurality of images are captured while said image capture device(s) and said needle cannula rotate relatively for a whole circle.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system defined by above technical scheme can realize the objective of automatic inspection of needle cannulae by capturing images of needle cannula tip area and processing of the images captured using machine vision technologies.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, wherein a plurality of images are captured while said image capture device(s) and said needle cannula rotate relatively for a whole circle. Said image capture device(s) and said needle cannula can rotate relatively at a constant speed and a plurality of images are captured at equal intervals for a whole circle. Images captured can be processed using machine vision technologies and controlled by the said inspection and control unit to inspect the quality and technical parameters of needle cannulae.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, wherein said image capture device(s) and said needle cannula can rotate relatively at a constant speed and a plurality of images are captured at equal intervals for a whole circle.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, wherein said cannula wheel only rotates forward one tooth at a time or the said linear stepper tool bars or the said linear stepper belt only move forward one tooth at a time.

To better position the needle cannula on both sides of said cannula wheel or linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt, the present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, wherein, on both sides of the circumferential edge of the said cannula wheel, or said linear stepper tool bars or the said linear stepper belt, there are teeth, between two adjacent teeth there is a tooth groove or slot, said engagement area with said power-driven rotating belt system or said power-driven rotating wheel is between teeth one both sides.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, wherein, said teeth, tooth grooves or slots are uniformly and symmetrically set to ensure that needle cannulae will not be bent when pressed and driven to rotate by said power-driven rotating belt system or said power-driven rotating wheel.

As a further preferred embodiment, the present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, wherein said needle cannula is at the root of said tooth groove or slot, said engagement area with power-driven rotating belt system or said power-driven rotating wheel is the area between the teeth on both sides, said engagement area on said cannula wheel is a cylinder whose diameter is on the circumference of root of teeth on both sides, said engagement area on said linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt is a plane coinciding with the plane formed by the root of teeth on both sides.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, wherein the width of said power-driven rotating belt or power-driven rotating wheel is slightly less than the width of the said engagement area to ensure the sooth operation of said power-driven rotating belt or power-driven rotating wheel.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, wherein the system uses multithreading techniques.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, wherein said image capture device(s) can be double image capture devices to inspect both bevel areas at each end simultaneously for needle cannula with bevel areas at both ends.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system further comprises at least one light source electrically connected and controlled by said inspection and control unit.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system further comprises a rejected part removal unit using compressed air to realize simple but reliable rejected parts removal.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, wherein said inspection and control unit is a computer, said image capture device is at least one camera, said inspection and control unit is connected with said image capture device(s), motors of said needle cannula holding and positioning unit or said needle cannula holding, positioning and rotating unit or said fixed needle cannula holding and positioning unit, and said rejected part removal unit respectively with synchronized control settings.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, wherein images captured by said image capture device(s) are saved to computer directly, conventional graying, filtering, binarization and rough edge extraction are processed on saved images by said computer for further inspection on related parameters.

As a key element of a preferred embodiment of the present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system, the cannula wheel rotates by steps, and structurally on circumferential edge of the wheel, there are teeth, between two adjacent teeth there is a tooth groove to place a needle cannula to be inspected, and there is a engagement area with power-driven rotating belt system on the circumferential edge of the wheel.

As a further preferred embodiment, on both sides of the circumferential edge of the wheel, there are teeth, between two adjacent teeth there is a tooth groove, and said engagement area with power-driven rotating belt system is between the teeth and grooves on both sides, so that said needle cannula can be positioned on both sides of the circumferential edge of the wheel.

As a further preferred embodiment, said teeth and tooth grooves on both sides of the circumferential edge of the wheel are uniformly and symmetrically set to ensure that when the needle cannulae are driven to rotate at constant speed, said image capture device(s) can capture images at equal interval, so that a more reliable dada is provided for further inspection analyses.

Another substantial part of the present invention, a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method, using the method, a plurality of images are captured along the circumferential direction of said needle cannula for a whole circle by rotating needle cannula relative to image capture device(s), various quality and technical parameters of needle cannula are inspected using machine vision technologies.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method, wherein images captured along the circumference of needle cannula can be continuous and at equal intervals for a whole circle.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method comprises the following steps:

-   A. Select and adjust said image capture device(s), lenses and light     sources based on the dimension of said needle cannula and set     parameters such as distance, aperture and exposure time to capture     clear images; -   B. Set the accuracy and threshold for each inspection parameter; -   C. Connected said computer with said image capture device(s), motors     of cannula wheel device or linear stepper tool bars or linear     stepper belt and said rejected part removal unit respectively with     synchronized control settings.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method comprises the following steps in a preferred embodiment:

-   A. Said cannula wheel step rotates forward, or said linear stepper     tool bars or linear stepper belt step moves forward; -   B. Each tooth groove or slot of said cannula wheel or linear stepper     tool bars or linear stepper belt is placed with one needle cannula; -   C. Said cannula wheel or linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper     belt pauses when the bevel area of said needle cannula in the tooth     groove or slot is within the focus position of said image capture     device; -   D. Said power-driven rotating belt system or said power-driven     rotating wheel above the said cannula wheel or linear stepper tool     bars or linear stepper belt automatically presses onto the said     needle cannula in the tooth grove or slot, and drive the said needle     cannula to rotate; -   E. Said computer sends a signal to start said image capture     device(s); -   F. Under illumination of said light sources, a plurality of images     are captured at equal intervals while said image capture device(s)     and said needle cannula rotate relatively at a constant speed for a     whole circle, said images are saved to said computer, processed with     machine vision techniques, and whether the needle cannula passes the     inspection is recorded.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method, wherein multithreading techniques and double image capture devices can be used to inspect both bevel areas at each end for needle cannula with bevel areas at both ends simultaneously.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method, wherein said cannula wheel step rotates forward one tooth at a time, or said linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt step moves forward one tooth at a time.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method, wherein conventional graying, filtering, binarization and rough edge extraction are processed on saved images.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method comprises further the following step:

-   G. Rejected needle cannula is blown off by compressed air of the     rejected part removal device while qualified needle cannulae will     advance with said cannula wheel or linear stepper tool bars or     linear stepper belt into the next process.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method comprises further the following step:

-   H. Upon completion of said needle cannula rotating relative to said     image capture device(s) for a full circle and image capture process,     said cannula wheel or linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper     belt controlled by the computer signal advances one tooth and wait     for the computer signal to start the image capture device(s) on next     needle cannula.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method, wherein a plurality of images captured on one bevel area of said needle cannula are processed to inspect at least one of the following quality and/or technical parameters:

(a) Burrs on bevels and needle tip sharpness;

(b) Inward or outward curved needle tips;

(c) Accuracy of several bevel angles of needle cannula tip;

(d) Length of needle cannula.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method, wherein the inspection on needle burrs on bevels and tip sharpness by processing and analyzing a plurality of images captured on one bevel area of said needle cannula comprises the following steps:

-   -   (1) Among all the images captured around a full needle cannula         circumference on one tip area, choose the one image with largest         bright area; then perform accurate continuous area extraction,         contour extraction, curve fitting and ellipse fitting to obtain         ideal inner contour, outer contour and burrs;     -   (2) When the burr's dimension, if any, exceeds the preset         threshold, the needle cannula is disqualified;     -   (3) Perform linear fitting of the upper portion of the bright         area's outer contour, the two straight lines form an         intersection above the needle tip, if the distance between the         said intersection and the uppermost point of the bright area         exceeds the preset threshold, the needle cannula is         disqualified.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method, wherein the inspection on inward or outward curved needle tips by processing and analyzing a plurality of images captured on one bevel area of said needle cannula comprises the following steps:

First identify the image with largest bright area as in previous steps, then count forward or backward a number of images, the number is nearest to one-forth of total number of images, in other wards, choose the image that is approximately 90 or 270 degrees to the image with largest bright area; this image is almost the side view of the needle cannula; perform linear fitting of the left and right vertical lines; if the distance between the top point of the longest vertical line and horizontally the leftmost pixel or rightmost pixel exceeds the preset threshold, the needle cannula has a curved tip and is disqualified.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method, wherein the inspection on accuracy of several bevel angles of needle cannula tip by processing and analyzing a plurality of images captured on one bevel area of said needle cannula comprises the following steps:

Using the same method as in previous steps, perform linear fitting on a few lines in the bevel area, in this embodiment there are 3 bevels, so there are 2 fitting lines, i.e., fitting line 51 for bevel A and fitting line 52 for bevel B, angles formed between the cannula left outer line 49 and fitted lines can be calculated and compared with preset threshold; by processing the image of near 180 degrees to this image, the accuracy of bevel angles on the other side can also be inspected.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method, wherein the needle cannula length can be calculated when both ends of the needle cannula are inspected and the distance between camera A 32 and camera B 33 is calibrated, thus the needle cannula length can be inspected by comparing with preset threshold.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method, wherein the needle cannula length can be calculated when only one end of the needle cannula is inspected, the other end is in a fixed position and the distance between camera and the other end is calibrated, thus the needle cannula length can be inspected by comparing with preset threshold.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method, wherein the system can automatically record classification and statistics of passed and rejected cannulae for query.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method, wherein a plurality of images captured along the circumferential direction of said needle cannula for a whole circle can be used to build a three-dimensional model, with which quality and technical parameters can be inspected.

The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

Using the present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system and method to inspect multiple quality and technical parameters of needle cannula online, inspection parameters and accuracy can be set at any time, the system can automatically record classification and statistics of passed and rejected cannulae for query, and the rejected cannulae can be removed automatically, the system can alarm with sound and light and display images of rejected products. Without the need to position the bevels of cannula tip to a specific direction, the system realizes the first time the automatic inspection of multiple quality and technical parameters of the needle cannula and rejected product removal at one work station. The system can inspect needle cannula at both ends simultaneously, thereby the inspection efficiency and reliability are greatly enhanced. Using the system and method of the present invention, automatic inspection of needle cannula can be realized with a personal computer, industrial camera(s) and light sources, resulting in high cost effective ratio, extremely extensive application prospects and huge economic values.

DRAWINGS

Constituting a part of this application, the accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, exemplary embodiments of the present invention and the descriptions thereof are used to explain the present invention, and do not constitute improper limitation to the present invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is the side images of a needle cannula tip area at a full revolution or circle

FIG. 2 is a schematic view toward the needle tip along the axis of needle cannula

FIG. 3 is a preferred embodiment of the system

FIG. 4 is on the relationship among the cannula wheel, needle cannula and rotating belt system

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the inspection of burrs of a needle cannula tip area

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the inspection of needle tip sharpness

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the needle cannula

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the present invention.

Components in the drawings are labeled as follows:

-   -   1-25, side view of 25 images of a needle cannula tip area at         equal intervals and a full revolution or circle; 26, burrs at         needle cannula tip area; 27, curved needle cannula tips; 28,         needle cannula; 29, cannula wheel; 30, tooth grooves; 31, the         rotating belt system; 32, camera A; 33, camera B; 34, light         source A; 35, light source B; 36, light source C; 37, light         sourced D; 38, rejected part removal device using compressed         air; 39, tooth groove A; 40, tooth groove B, 41, cylinder; 42,         rotating belt; 43, inner contour of needle cannula tip area; 44,         outer contour of the needle cannula tip area; 45, burrs; 46, the         intersection point of fitting straight lines; 47, uppermost         point of needle cannula tip area; 48, right fitting straight         line of cannula; 49, left fitting straight line of cannula; 50,         curved needle cannula tip; 51, fitting straight line of slope A;         52, fitting straight line of slope B; 53, enlarged view of the         needle cannula tip A; 54, enlarged view of the needle cannula         tip B

The present invention will be described below with reference to a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings.

A Preferred Embodiment

It should be noted that, under the condition of no conflict, embodiments of the present invention and the features of the embodiments can be combined with each other. The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings and the detailed description in conjunction with the embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 3, the present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system and method, a number of images of needle cannula tip area are captured continuously at equal intervals for a full circle by rotating the needle cannula and the image capture device relatively, multiple quality and technical parameters are inspected through processing and analyzing the images captured using machine vision technologies. After each needle cannula 28 is automatically discharged into the tooth groove 30 of the cannula wheel 29, the cannula wheel pauses when the root of tooth groove 30 is at the top position, the rotating belt system 31 above cannula wheel 29 automatically presses on to the cannula 28 inside the tooth groove 30 and drives the cannula 28 to rotate, the computer sends a signal to start camera A 32 and camera B 33 to capture a number of images at equal intervals and save to the computer under illumination of light source A 34, light source B 35, light source C 36 and light source D 37 when cannula 28 and camera A and Camera B rotates relatively for a full circle, The images are processed using machine vision technologies and results are recorded. rejected parts will be blown away by compressed air of rejected part removal device 38 at rejected parts removal position, qualified needle cannula will advance with the cannula wheel to next process. Meanwhile, at the completion of the needle cannula 28 rotates relatively with camera A 32 and camera B 33 for a full circle, the cannula wheel 29 step advance one tooth after receiving a control signal from the computer indicating the image capture process is completed, awaiting camera A 32 and camera B 33 to receive a signal from the computer to start image capture on next cannula.

As shown in FIG. 4, tooth groove A and tooth groove B are on cannula wheel 29 to position needle cannula 28, cylinder 41 is sandwiched by the tooth groove A and tooth groove B, the outer diameter of cylinder 41 is on the circumference of the bottom of tooth grooves A and B, tooth groove A 39 and tooth grooves B 40 are symmetrically set to ensure that needle cannula is not bent when pressed and driven to rotate by the power-driven rotating belt system. the width of the power-driven rotating belt is slightly less than the inner distance between the tooth groove A and tooth groove B.

When a number of images captured on one bevel area of said needle cannula are processed to inspect at least one of the following quality and/or technical parameters:

(1) Burrs on bevels and needle tip sharpness;

(2) Inward or outward curved needle tips;

(3) Accuracy of several bevel angles of needle cannula tip area;

(4) Length of needle cannula.

The present invention a machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method according to a preferred embodiment, comprises the following steps:

-   (1) Select and adjust said image capture device(s), lenses and light     sources based on the dimension of said needle cannula and set     parameters such as distance, aperture and exposure time to capture     clear images; -   (2) Set the accuracy and threshold for each inspection parameter; -   (3) Connect the computer with camera A 32 and camera B 33, motors of     cannula wheel 29 and rejected part removal unit 38 respectively with     synchronized control setting; -   (4) Cannula wheel 29 step rotates forward, one tooth at a time, each     tooth groove 30 of cannula wheel 29 is automatically placed with one     needle cannula, cannula wheel 29 pauses when the bottom of tooth     groove 30 is at the upmost position, the rotating belt system 31     above the cannula wheel 29 automatically presses onto the needle     cannula 28 in the tooth grove 30 and drive the needle cannula 28 to     rotate, a signal sent from the computer starts camera A 32 and     camera B 33, under illumination of light source A 34. light source B     35, light source C 36, light source D 37. a number of images are     captured at equal intervals while camera A 32 and camera B 33 rotate     relatively with needle cannula 28 at a constant speed for a whole     circle, the images are saved to the computer and processed with     machine vision techniques; -   (5) Conventional graying, filtering, binarization and rough edge     extraction are processed on saved images. -   (6) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the system performs inspections     on needle burrs on bevels and tip sharpness, first choose the one     image with largest bright area among all the images captured around     a full needle cannula circumference on one tip area, this is the     image captured closest to the position when the entire bevel area of     the needle cannula is exposed to the camera the most, i.e. position     1 in FIG. 1, then perform accurate continuous area extraction,     contour extraction, curve fitting and ellipse fitting to obtain     ideal inner contour 43, outer contour 44 and burrs 45, as shown in     FIG. 5. When the burr's dimension, if any, exceeds the preset     threshold, the needle cannula is disqualified. Then perform linear     fitting of the upper portion of the bright area's outer contour, the     two straight lines form an intersection 46 above the needle tip, if     the distance between the intersection 46 and the uppermost point of     the bright area 47 exceeds the preset threshold, the needle cannula     is disqualified, as shown in FIG. 6. -   (7) As shown in FIG. 7, when the system performs inspections on     inward or outward curved needle tips, first identify the image with     largest bright area as in step (6), then count forward or backward a     number of images, the number is nearest to one-forth of total number     of images, in other wards, choose the image that is approximately 90     or 270 degrees to the image with largest bright area, this image is     almost the side view of the needle cannula, equivalent to position 7     and 18 in FIG. 1. Then perform linear fitting of the right and left     vertical lines 48 and 49 to confirm the longest vertical line 49, if     the distance between the top point of the longest vertical line 49     and horizontally the leftmost pixel or rightmost pixel exceeds the     preset threshold, the needle cannula has a curved tip and is     disqualified. -   (8) As shown in FIG. 7, when the system performs inspections on     accuracy of several bevel angles of needle cannula, use the same     method as in step (7), perform linear fitting on a few lines in the     bevel area, in this embodiment there are 3 bevels, so there are 2     fitting lines, i.e., fitting line 51 for bevel A and fitting line 52     for bevel B, angles formed between the cannula left outer line 49     and fitted lines can be calculated and compared with preset     threshold to decide whether the needle cannula is qualified. By     processing the image of near 180 degrees to this image, the accuracy     of bevel angles on the other side can also be inspected. -   (9) If the needle cannula inspected has bevel tip areas at both     ends, the same steps (5) to (8) can be used to inspect the other end     simultaneously. The length of needle cannula can be calculated when     both ends of the needle cannula are inspected and the distance     between camera A and camera B is calibrated, thus the needle cannula     length can be inspected by comparing with preset threshold. When     only one end of the needle cannula is inspected, the other end is in     a fixed position and the distance between camera and the other end     is calibrated, the needle cannula length can also be inspected by     comparing with preset threshold. -   (10) The system can automatically record classification and     statistics of passed and rejected cannulae for query, rejected     needle cannula is blown off by compressed air of the rejected part     removal device 38 at rejected part removal position while qualified     needle cannulae will advance with cannula wheel into the next     process. Meanwhile, upon completion of needle cannula 28 rotating     relative to camera A 32 and camera B 33 for a full circle and image     capture process, cannula wheel 29 controlled by the computer signal     advances one tooth and wait for the computer signal to start camera     A 32 and camera B 33 to capture images on next needle cannula.

Besides, images captured along the circumferential direction of a needle cannula for a whole circle can be used to build a three-dimensional model, with which quality and technical parameters can be inspected.

The descriptions above are only preferable embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. To one skilled in the field, the present invention may have various changes and variations. Within the spirit and principle of the present invention, all modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. 

1. A machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection system comprising: An inspection and control unit, to establish and realize its synchronized control and information processing with all other units of the automatic inspection system, and one of the following items a, b or c: a. A needle cannula holding and positioning unit, to separate, position and hold the needle cannula and to be able to keep the said needle cannula in position while the said needle cannula is driven to rotate; A needle cannula driving unit, to rotate the said needle cannula; Fixed image capture device(s), to capture images of rotating needle cannula driven by the said needle cannula driving unit while synchronized and controlled by the said inspection and control unit; b. A needle cannula holding, positioning and rotating unit, to separate, position, hold and rotate the said needle cannula and to be able to keep the said needle cannula in position; Fixed image capture device(s), to capture images of rotating needle cannula while synchronized and controlled by the said inspection and control unit; c. A fixed needle cannula holding and positioning unit, to separate, position and hold the said needle cannula; Image capture device(s) rotating around the said needle cannula, to capture images of the said fixed needle cannula while rotating around the said needle cannula and synchronized and controlled by the said inspection and control unit.
 2. A needle cannula inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the said needle cannula holding and positioning unit is a cannula wheel device, or linear stepper tool bars, or a linear stepper belt; Said needle cannula driving unit is a power-driven rotating belt system, or a power-driven rotating wheel, which enables the said fixed image capture device(s) to capture images of rotating needle cannula driven by the said needle cannula driving unit while synchronized and controlled by the said inspection and control unit.
 3. A needle cannula inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the said needle cannula holding, positioning and rotating unit is a device that can separate, position, hold and rotate the said needle cannula and to be able to keep the said needle cannula in position, so that the said fixed image capture device(s) can capture images of rotating needle cannula while synchronized and controlled by the said inspection and control unit.
 4. A needle cannula inspection system according to claim 1, wherein said fixed needle cannula holding and positioning unit is a cannula wheel device, or linear stepper tool bars, or a linear stepper belt, or any device that can individually separate and fix the said needle cannula; Said image capture device(s) rotating around the said needle cannula is a system that rotates around the said needle cannula when driven by power and is capable of keeping the image capture device(s) focused on said needle cannula while capturing images and synchronized and controlled by the said inspection and control unit.
 5. A needle cannula inspection system according to claim 2, wherein, on both sides of the circumferential edge of the said cannula wheel, or on top of the said linear stepper tool bars or the said linear stepper belt, there are uniformly and symmetrically set teeth, between two adjacent teeth there is a tooth groove or slot where said needle cannula to be inspected is placed in, each tooth groove or slot is placed at most one said needle cannula, said cannula wheel only rotates forward one tooth at a time or the said linear stepper tool bars or the said linear stepper belt only move forward one tooth at a time.
 6. A needle cannula inspection system according to claim 5, wherein said power-driven rotating belt system or said power-driven rotating wheel is placed above the said cannula wheel or the said linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt, forming an engagement area with said cannula wheel or on the said linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt in which said power-driven rotating belt or power-driven rotating wheel is pressed onto the said needle cannula near the bottom of tooth grove or slot, when the said belt or wheel is driven to rotate, it will drive the said needle cannula to rotate, said engagement area is a cylindrical area whose diameter is on the circumference of the bottom of said tooth grooves or slots of said cannula wheel, or a plane whose height is the same as the bottom of tooth grooves or slots on said linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt, the width of said power-driven rotating belt or power-driven rotating wheel is slightly less than the width of the said engagement area.
 7. A needle cannula inspection system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of images are captured while said image capture device(s) and said needle cannula rotate relatively for a whole circle.
 8. A needle cannula inspection system according to claim 7, wherein said image capture device(s) and said needle cannula rotate relatively at a constant speed and a plurality of images are captured at equal intervals for a whole circle.
 9. A needle cannula inspection system according to claim 1, wherein said image capture device(s) could be double image capture devices.
 10. A needle cannula inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a rejected part removal unit.
 11. A needle cannula inspection system according to claim 10, wherein said inspection and control unit is a computer, said image capture device is at least one camera, said inspection and control unit is connected with said image capture device(s), motors of said needle cannula holding and positioning unit or said needle cannula holding, positioning and rotating unit or said fixed needle cannula holding and positioning unit, and said rejected part removal unit respectively with synchronized control settings.
 12. A machine vision based automatic needle cannula inspection method comprising: By rotating said needle cannula relative to said image capture device(s), a plurality of images are captured along the circumferential direction of said needle cannula for a whole circle; Various quality and technical parameters of said needle cannula are inspected through screening, processing and analyzing the captured images.
 13. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of images are captured along the circumferential direction of said needle cannula at equal intervals continuously for a whole circle.
 14. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 12 comprises the following steps: (1) Select and adjust said image capture device(s), lenses and light sources based on the dimension of said needle cannula and set parameters such as distance, aperture and exposure time to capture clear images; (2) Set the accuracy and threshold for each inspection parameter; (3) Connect said computer with said image capture device(s), motors of cannula wheel device or linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt and said rejected part removal unit respectively with synchronized control settings.
 15. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 14 comprises further the following steps: (4) Said cannula wheel step rotates forward, or said linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt step moves forward; (5) Each tooth groove or slot of said cannula wheel or linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt is placed with one needle cannula; (6) Said cannula wheel or linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt pauses when the bevel area of said needle cannula in the tooth groove or slot is within the focus position of said image capture device; (7) Said power-driven rotating belt system or said power-driven rotating wheel above the said cannula wheel or linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt automatically presses onto the said needle cannula in the tooth groove or slot, and drive the said needle cannula to rotate; (8) Said computer sends a signal to start said image capture device(s); (9) Under illumination of said light sources, a plurality of images are captured at equal intervals while said image capture device(s) and said needle cannula rotate relatively at a constant speed for a whole circle, said images are saved to said computer, processed with machine vision techniques, and whether the needle cannula passes the inspection is recorded.
 16. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 12, wherein multithreading techniques and double image capture devices can be used to inspect both bevel areas at each end for needle cannula with bevel areas at both ends simultaneously.
 17. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 14, wherein said cannula wheel step rotates forward one tooth at a time, or said linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt step moves forward one tooth at a time.
 18. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 12, wherein conventional graying, filtering, binarization and rough edge extraction are processed on saved images.
 19. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 15 comprises further the following step: (10) Rejected needle cannula is blown off by compressed air of the rejected part removal device while qualified needle cannulae advance with said cannula wheel or linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt into the next process.
 20. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 19 further comprises the following step: (11) Upon completion of said needle cannula rotating relative to said image capture device(s) for a full circle and image capture process, said cannula wheel or linear stepper tool bars or linear stepper belt controlled by the computer signal advances one tooth and wait for the computer signal to start the image capture device(s) on next needle cannula.
 21. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of images captured on one bevel area of said needle cannula are processed to inspect at least one of the following quality and/or technical parameters: (a) Burrs on bevels and needle tip sharpness; (b) Inward or outward curved needle tips; (c) Accuracy of several bevel angles of needle cannula tip area; (d) Length of needle cannula.
 22. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 21, wherein the inspection on needle burrs on bevels and tip sharpness by processing and analyzing a plurality of images captured on one bevel area of said needle cannula comprises the following steps: (1) Among all the images captured around a full needle cannula circumference on one tip area, choose the one image with largest bright area; then perform accurate continuous area extraction, contour extraction, curve fitting and ellipse fitting to obtain ideal inner contour, outer contour and burrs; (2) When the burr's dimension, if any, exceeds the preset threshold, the needle cannula is disqualified; (3) Perform linear fitting of the upper portion of the bright area's outer contour, the two straight lines form an intersection above the needle tip, if the distance between the said intersection and the uppermost point of the bright area exceeds the preset threshold, the needle cannula is disqualified.
 23. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 21, wherein the inspection on inward or outward curved needle tips by processing and analyzing a plurality of images captured on one bevel area of said needle cannula comprises the following steps: First identify the image with largest bright area as in previous steps, then count forward or backward a number of images, the number is nearest to one-forth of total number of images, in other wards, choose the image that is approximately 90 or 270 degrees to the image with largest bright area; this image is almost the side view of the needle cannula; perform linear fitting of the left and right vertical lines; if the distance between the top point of the longest vertical line and horizontally the leftmost pixel or rightmost pixel exceeds the preset threshold, the needle cannula has a curved tip and is disqualified.
 24. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 23, wherein the inspection on accuracy of several bevel angles of needle cannula tip area by processing and analyzing a plurality of images captured on one bevel area of said needle cannula comprises the following steps: Using the same method as in claim 23, perform linear fitting on a few lines in the bevel area, angles formed between the cannula outer line and fitted lines can be calculated. Accuracy of bevel angles can be decided by comparing with preset threshold; by processing the image of near 180 degrees to this image, the accuracy of bevel angles on the other side can also be inspected.
 25. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 21, wherein the needle cannula length can be calculated when both ends of the needle cannula are inspected and the distance between camera A and camera B is calibrated, thus the needle cannula length can be inspected by comparing with preset threshold.
 26. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 21, wherein the needle cannula length can be calculated when only one end of the needle cannula is inspected, the other end is in a fixed position and the distance between camera and the other end is calibrated, thus the needle cannula length can be inspected by comparing with preset threshold.
 27. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 21, wherein the system can automatically record classification and statistics of passed and rejected cannulae for query.
 28. A needle cannula inspection method according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of images captured along the circumferential direction of said needle cannula for a whole circle can be used to build a three-dimensional model, with which quality and technical parameters can be inspected. 